POSITION

• GS-0421-04 Plant Protection Technician (SJ-819)

SALARY

• GS-04 $35,373.00 to $45,982.00 per Annum 

New Hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade 

selected. 

PROGRAM AREA

• Plant Protection and Quarantine, Field Ops district 6

DUTY LOCATION

• Edinburg, TX

WORK SCHEDULE

• Full-time

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT

• Term - Initial 13-month appointment. May be extended up to a total of 4 years.

NUMBER OF VACANCIES

• 1 

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Occasional Travel – This position may require some travel for training and work assignments.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a US Citizen or US National.

• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.

• Successful completion of one-year trial period or probationary period as applicable.

• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments 

made by direct deposit to their financial institution.

• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.

• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your 

rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

WHO MAY APPLY

Non-competitive Hiring Authorities. Veterans – VRA or 30% or More Disabled Veterans, Schedule A (persons with 

disabilities), Military Spouses, Peace Corps or VISTA Volunteer.

OVERVIEW

• APHIS is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. 

agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act 
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and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of 

USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues.

• Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is a program within APHIS which safeguards U.S. agriculture and 

natural resources against the entry, establishment, and spread of economically and environmentally 

significant pests, and facilitates the safe trade of agricultural products. Join our team and gain valuable 

experience working in the field to stop this invasive species from harming our nation’s agriculture.

This position is part of PPQ’s Field Operations (FO) Core Functional Area (CFA) at an APHIS, PPQ duty 

station with significant responsibilities related to a domestic and/or emergency program setting. The 

incumbent performs technical duties in a team setting which support long- and short-term projects of 

relevance to PPQ pertaining to survey of pest pests, weeds or diseases.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Makes field identifications of host material and plant pests involved.

• Works as part of a team who inspects and surveys properties for the presence of harmful insects, plant 

and plant diseases.

• Assists higher graded technicians in determining the presence and degree of infestation through means 

including visual survey, sample collection, and trapping.

• Takes samples of collected pests and targeted host materials.

• Collects data and maintains daily records associated with survey work and regulatory procedures.

• Prepares reports on activities and accomplishments within assigned area.

• Prepares maps used in connection with survey activities.

• Contacts landowners, tenants, managers, farmers, nurserymen, orchardists, camp grounds, 

representatives of private industry, etc., relative to securing written permission to conduct surveys and 

enforce quarantine regulations.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Individual Occupational Requirements

• Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above)

Qualifying specialized experience must have provided familiarity with the methods, procedures, and 

techniques involved in inspecting, detecting, identifying, eradicating, suppressing, or controlling plant 

pests, and in the enforcement of Federal and State quarantines. Examples of qualifying specialized 

experience include:

o Inspecting nursery plants for the presence of a specific plant pest.

o Surveying areas for specific plant pests or for the presence of alternate plant hosts.

o Developing rough maps showing control or eradication treatment completed, areas surveyed, or pest 

finds located.

o Performing survey control or eradication procedures in a local pest control program.

o Answering questions regarding plant pest control procedures, harmful side-effects of pesticides to 

other living organisms, etc.

o Inspecting vehicles in the enforcement of plant quarantine regulations.

o Performing laboratory work involved with raising and/or sterilizing various insects.

OR;

• Education and Training
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o For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 8 semester hours in courses 

such as those shown such as biology, plant pathology, entomology, zoology, botany, forestry, 

chemistry, agriculture, or physics.

Based on the Individual Occupational Requirements above, the candidate must also meet the following: 

• FOR THE GS-04 LEVEL: Six (6) months General Experience AND Six (6) months of Specialized Experience 

(equivalent to the GS-03 level) as outlined above, OR; or Education Substitution listed above.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are required to submit the following items for consideration PPQ.Reccruitment@usda.gov.

Please list the Position Title in the subject line.

o Applicants are required to submit the following items for consideration.

o Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 

3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work 

schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other 

qualifications or certifications; and 5) supervisors name and phone number for each work period listed 

and whether or not they may be contacted for reference checks.

o When claiming Veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, 

which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you 

must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable 

conditions within 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.

o Disabled Veterans must also submit a VA Disability Letter (if applicable) for verification of serviceconnected disability.

o Schedule A candidates must include a Schedule A Letter for eligible disabled persons. To be eligible for 

Schedule A, you must provide a proof of a disability letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, 

severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. You can get this letter from your doctor, a licensed 

medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist or any federal, state, or local agency 

that issues or provides disability benefits. Letter must be on office Letterhead. 

o Military Spouses must provide a copy of: Spouse ID card, Copy of Active-Duty spouses military orders, and 

marriage certificate.

o Peace Corps or VISTA Volunteers must provide their NCE letter.

o Must submit a copy of Transcripts if qualifying with education as listed in qualifications section. 

Transcripts can be unofficial but, if selected, candidates will be required to submit official transcripts 

before start date.

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